News and Updates

Our newly purchased hotels did not come empty. When Greater Des Moines Supportive Housing closed on the future Starling Campus in West Des Moines and Solstice Campus in Urbandale, we inherited everything inside of them. Beds. Dressers. Desks. Lamps. Refrigerators. Stoves. Filing cabinets. Five years into this effort, that was not on our bingo card! We looked at our options.  Remove it,…

Jamie Bussell joins Greater Des Moines Supportive Housing as CFO/CAO and Kelsie Pinegar as Deputy Director — two new leaders who will help build the organization behind Starling and Solstice.

Two permanent supportive housing campuses in Greater Des Moines finally have names: Starling, in West Des Moines, and Solstice, in Urbandale. Our CEO Emily Osweiler tells the whole story of how we got here, from a late night at a retreat center in Hiawatha to two buildings that will be home to hundreds of people who need somewhere real and safe to belong.

Last Friday, Greater Des Moines Supportive Housing closed on two former extended-stay hotels.  Both cities gave unanimous approval to the projects this summer, marking the end of a long search and the start of the real work. Together, these campuses will provide stable, long-term homes and supportive services for nearly 200 people experiencing homelessness or…

It has been a quiet year… but also a full one. After our last project fell through, we went back to work. Quietly, carefully, with the same conviction that brought us here in the first place: that every person deserves to belong… and that safe and supportive housing is where it can begin. Today we…

We’re thrilled to share an update on our progress towards creating permanent supportive housing in Des Moines. GDMSH has signed an option on the Holiday Inn Downtown on 6th Avenue, with the goal of closing within 60 days after January 31, 2025. This is a significant milestone for our organization, and we’re excited about the potential…

Hello Friends of Greater Des Moines Supportive Housing, It is time for a major update in the life of our organization.  This will be long because it’s a personal note from me to you and I’m a talker!  Plus, I am trying to anticipate your questions.  If you want to skip to the bottom, that…

Greater Des Moines Supportive Housing (GDMSH) is extremely pleased to announce that we have been awarded a $300,000 Seeding a Legacy of Healing Grant from the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration (FSPA) in La Crosse, Wisconsin. This impactful gift allows us to continue our work in creating much-needed housing opportunities for the most vulnerable in…

Dearest Friends of Greater Des Moines Supportive Housing, Hello again! I’m excited to update you on what’s been happening behind the scenes these last couple of months! As you might know, in August we made the decision to terminate our contract for the Valley West Inn site in West Des Moines. Our #DreamBoard and #DreamTeam huddled…